NAIROBI, Kenya – The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has raised alarm over the rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across Africa, cautioning that the growing threat could undermine decades of progress in health and development.
In a report released Wednesday titled “Mapping Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Use Partnership”, the continental public health agency said the “alarming rate” of drug resistance in 14 African countries is now a pressing public health emergency.
The study—described as Africa’s largest analysis of antimicrobial resistance to date—reviewed over 187,000 test results from 205 laboratories between 2016 and 2019 across countries including Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Malawi, and Mali.
“Antimicrobial resistance is silently spreading and eroding our ability to treat common bacterial infections. This is a major health and economic threat,” Africa CDC stated.
Powerful Antibiotics Losing Effectiveness
One of the most disturbing findings was the widespread resistance to third-generation cephalosporins—a powerful class of antibiotics—in Ghana and Malawi.
The report warns that such resistance could lead to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased mortality.
The analysis further revealed that older adults and hospitalized patients were disproportionately affected by drug-resistant infections, highlighting an urgent need for targeted intervention in high-risk groups.
Weak Testing and Data Systems
The study also exposed serious deficiencies in the continent’s capacity to monitor and respond to AMR.
Fewer than 2 per cent of health facilities were equipped to test for bacterial infections, and only 12 per cent of drug resistance data were linked to patient records—limiting meaningful response planning.
“We are flying blind. Without proper laboratory systems and data, we cannot fight this invisible epidemic,” Africa CDC noted in the report.
Call to Action
The findings come at a time when health systems across Africa are already strained by overlapping crises—including cholera outbreaks, mpox, and lingering effects of COVID-19.
Africa CDC is urging governments, health institutions, and global partners to prioritize investment in laboratory infrastructure, data integration, and infection control strategies to counter the growing threat of AMR.
The agency has committed to coordinating a continental response plan and supporting countries to build national AMR action frameworks in alignment with the African Union’s agenda for health security.
